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Flights & transfer information
Flight supplements: The cost of your holiday is based on departures with no additional flight costs, with some exceptions (see notes below). These departures are shown as £0 or “nil” supplement in the flight tables. If you choose to fly from a different airport, or on certain days, you may have to pay a 'flight supplement’ as shown in “Ski Flights”. Flights not listed in the brochure, but which become available after it is printed, may also attract extra charges, worked out in the same way. Please note: Some holidays are only available on flights with extra charges, either because the accommodation is available only on certain days of flying, or because onward travel arrangements are only available at certain times.
Airport/resort transfers
Approximate timings: In order to keep prices low and still offer you as many UK departure airports as possible, we often need to combine transfers to and from the resorts for passengers from several arriving and departing flights. This means you may incur additional waiting time on arrival at the airport and on your return, though we will do our best to keep waiting times to a minimum. Transfer times listed on resort pages, which apply to the actual journey time after leaving the airport/station, are approximate and can vary due to poor weather, traffic conditions or transfer routes. Please note that some transfers to your resort may not be accompanied by a Crystal rep and may include transferring onto a smaller vehicle to take you into the resort and your accommodation. Due to customer demand we are offering express direct transfers on certain routes and trains in Switzerland (this is why these flights carry a larger supplement).
Border controls: Please note that transfers which involve crossing national borders may be subject to delays as a result of immigration control and customs. Therefore, approximate timings as advertised may sometimes be longer than anticipated.
Flight delays:
1. In the event of a flight delay over 3 hours, we will endeavour in conjunction with the charter airline, to provide light refreshments and, over 6 hours, a main meal, though this will depend on local circumstances. In the event of extended delays, we will try to make arrangements for overnight accommodation for you, though this is not guaranteed, and again depends on local circumstances. You should be able to reclaim the costs against your insurance policy, see “Our Obligations” 3 (iii) (c). Please note we may not always be aware of delays on some scheduled or internal flights in which cases welfare arrangements will be made by the airlines. If you are travelling in the USA or Canada utilising connecting flights and experience a delay, please telephone the relevant Area Office to inform us of your amended travel details.
2. Airlines do not offer compensation for inconvenience or loss of holiday time caused by flight delays. Similarly, it is not possible to obtain refunds for any unused accommodation or facilities in the event of an extended delay.
Air carrier liability
This information notice summarises the liability rules applied by Community air carriers as required by Community legislation and the Montreal Convention.
Compensation in the case of death or injury: There are no financial limits to the liability for passenger injury or death. For damages up to 100000 SDRs* (approximately £80,000) the air carrier cannot contest claims for compensation. Above that amount, the air carrier can defend itself against a claim by proving that it was not negligent or otherwise at fault.
Advance payments: If a passenger is killed or injured, the air carrier must make an advance payment, to cover immediate economic needs, within 15 days from the identification of the person entitled to compensation. In the event of death, this advance payment shall not be less than 16000 SDRs (approximately £13,000).
Passenger delays: In case of passenger delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for passenger delay is limited to 4150 SDRs (approximately £3,300).
Baggage delays: In case of baggage delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for baggage delay is limited to 1000 SDRs (approximately £800).
Destruction, loss or damage to baggage: The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1000 SDRs (approximately £800) In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault.
Higher limits for baggage: A passenger can benefit from a higher liability limit by making a special declaration at the latest at check-in and by paying a supplementary fee.
Complaints on baggage: If the baggage is damaged, delayed, lost or destroyed, the passenger must write and complain to the air carrier as soon as possible. In the case of damage to checked baggage, the passenger must write and complain within seven days, and in the case of delay within 21 days, in both cases from the date on which the baggage was placed at the passenger's disposal.
Liability of contracting and actual carriers: If the air carrier actually performing the flight is not the same as the contracting air carrier, the passenger has the right to address a complaint or to make a claim for damages against either. If the name or code of an air carrier is indicated on the ticket, that air carrier is the contracting air carrier.
Time limit for action: Any action in court to claim damages must be brought within two years from the date of arrival of the aircraft, or from the date on which the aircraft ought to have arrived.
Basis for the information: The basis for the rules described above is the Montreal Convention of 28 May 1999, which is implemented in the Community by Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 (as amended by Regulation (EC) No 889/2002) and national legislation of the Member States. *SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is a unit of account created by the International Monetary Fund in 1969, based on a basket of the world's leading currencies, principally US Dollars, Euros, Japanese Yen and Sterling.
Seat only
For those who have their own accommodation, return flight seats and snow train seats/ couchettes are available at extremely competitive prices starting from just £99. Some transfers can also be pre-booked.
Accommodation only
If you are overseas on business, using up your Air Miles, or visiting friends and just need accommodation only, this is available, normally by deducting up to £150 for European or £300 per person off the brochure price on North American holidays respectively. Please call for an individual quotation on 0870 160 6040, subject to availability.
Coach transfers
At Crystal, we are proud of our record of shorter waiting times
at our overseas airports, with transfer coaches over last few winters leaving within an average 30 minutes of the first passengers boarding.
Private transfers
Why not take the opportunity to pre-book a private transfer for your group or family, taking you directly from the airport to your accommodation. Private transfers are available to most European resorts.
Pre-book your seats on our Thomsonfly flights
We are pleased to offer two ways of prebooking your seats.
1. Standard prebookable seats: Guarantee that your party sits together on both the outbound and homeward Thomsonfly flight. Exact seat numbers will be given at check in. Prices are just £10 per adult.
2. Select your seat: If you don’t want to wait until check-in to know your seat number then select your seat NOW with Thomsonfly. Once you have pre-booked your seat with Crystal you can then select your actual seat number before you fly by calling Thomsonfly on 0870 1900 737 or click on www.thomsonfly.com. Select your seat costs a further £10 per adult or child return. Please see page 370-373 for futher information.
Travel – important information
All land and air travel arrangements, airlines and aircraft types, timings, routings and arrival airports are provisional until confirmed with your tickets and may change after this due to circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to substitute airlines/aircraft and make any necessary alteration to your travel arrangements, including method of carriage, in a force majeure situation to enable us to fulfil our obligation to transport you to/from the resort or your UK departure airport. Pregnant women: Are usually eligible to fly up to 28 weeks of the pregnancy on the date of return travel but, as this may vary, please check beforehand with your Doctor, holiday insurer and the relevant airline.
Operational decisions: May be taken by carriers and/or airports, port authorities and other competent authorities, resulting in delays, diversions or re-scheduling. When such situations occur, this is not within our control and we do not accept liability for them.
Baggage allowance: Remains specified by charter airlines and must be strictly complied to avoid excess baggage charges or luggage being off-loaded from the aircraft, as we will not accept claims in the respect.
Carriage of skis, snowboards and boots by air: With a growing number of skiers and snowboarders taking their own equipment on holiday, charter airlines are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the extra weight and handling of these items. This has increased the risk of luggage being off-loaded from aircraft. In common with all other major winter sports operators, we have therefore introduced a system to improve the reliability of ski/snowboard carriage, at a cost of £15 per pair of skis/snowboard carried (max 6kgs per £15 charge made). The ski & snowboard bag must contain the pair of skis or snowboard ONLY and weigh no more than 6kgs. Boot bags count towards your overall weight limit on all flights, as do skis on some scheduled flights. If you wish to have skis or snowboards added to your booking, these must be registered at the time of booking and if they should fail to arrive on your flight, the charge will be refunded and skis forwarded to you in resort free of charge. If you do not pre-book your skis, there is no guarantee that they will be carried, but if accepted, a minimum £30 charge will be levied at the check-in desk by appointed Crystal reps. This charge does not apply to scheduled airlines, unless operating as a charter, where ski equipment may be included in the total baggage allowance and additional charges may be levied if this is exceeded.
Personal property: From the point of arrival to transfer vehicle and from transfer vehicle to accommodation, and return, remains your responsibility to ensure that it is loaded/off-loaded from the transfer vehicle. Please note that porterage is not included, unless indicated otherwise.
Name change on tickets: If a name change is requested on charter tickets once tickets have been issued, a charge of up to £25 per ticket will be made. There will also be a charge for the re-issue of charter tickets and this will be £25 per ticket.
Infants
An infant is defined as a child who is under the age of 2 years on the day of return travel. Children 2 years and above must have their own seat booked and paid for on the aircraft. Infants under 2 years as defined above can either sit on an adult’s lap with the appropriate seat belt or alternatively you can book a seat at the child price or the airfare price, if this is lower than the administration charge of £39 for Europe, or £79 for USA and Canada, for children under 2 years. If you do book a seat you must use a purpose-designed car safety seat as long as it has a proper restraining harness and can be fixed facing forward on the seat in the plane (you are required to bring your own car seat, in good condition and provide the instruction leaflet for the cabin crew). We recommend you call the airline direct to check for any restrictions and further advice.
“In accordance with EU regulation 2111/2005 please note that there is a 'community list' which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban within the EU community. This list can be seen at www.dft.gov.uk.”
We have listed below the code and full name of the carriers to be used or likely to be used in our ski programme.
AA - American Airlines
AC - Air Canada
AEA - Air Europa
AEU - Astraeus
AWC - Titan Airways
AY - Finnair
AZ - Alitalia
BA - British Airways
BBO - FlyBaboo
BD - BMI
BE - FlyBe
CO - Continental Airlines
DL - Delta Airlines
EIR - Eirjet
EK - Emirates
FCA - First Choice Airways
FHE - Hello! Airlines
FI - Icelandair
HHI - Hamburg International
IB - Iberia
JL - Japan Airlines
JP - Adria Airways
KL - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KM - Air Malta
LH - Lufthansa
LS - Jet2
LX - Swiss International
ME - Middle East Airlines
MON - Monarch
MPJ - Map Air
MYT - MyTravel Airways
NW - Northwest Airlines
OK - Czech Airlines
OS - Austrian Airlines
QR - Qatar Airways
S4 - Sata International
SK - Scandinavian Airlines
SN - SN Brussels
TCX - Thomas Cook Airlines
TOM - Thomsonfly
UA - United Airlines
UL - Sri Lankan Airlines
VS - Virgin Atlantic
XLA - Excel Airways
Z4 - Zoom Airlines
ZB - Monarch (scheduled)
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